Two soldiers, Lance Corporals Musa Maidabra and Edwin George, serving at 122D30 Regiment in Maiduguri, Borno State, have been arrested for transporting the ransom that was paid for the release of the wife of the Central Bank Governor, Margaret Emefiele.
Emefiele and three others were abducted along Benin-Agbor Road about two weeks ago and were released 24 hours later after the payment of undisclosed amount to their abductors.
The two soldiers said they received N6.5m each as their share of the ransom estimated to be around N80m.
Maidabra and George, who were paraded alongside seven others on Monday in Abuja for alleged involvement in the kidnapping, said they were given the money for assisting the gang to transport the ransom to a hideout in Benin, the Edo State capital.
Other suspects included a dismissed soldier, Ernest Uduefe, Mohammed Abubakar, Mohammed Musa, Mohammed Sule, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Aliyu Musa and Mohammed Yusuf.
Maidabra said, “We were not involved in the kidnapping; we only assisted them to transport the money to a location. We carried the money and ran away with it in a vehicle; it was part of my friend’s share that I collected. We didn’t know the money was from a kidnap operation.”
George corroborated his colleague, saying they provided security cover for transporting the ransom to a hideout in Benin.
“I was not involved in the kidnap; the money they gave me was over N6m. I asked about the source of the money, but they didn’t tell me,” he said.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Donald Awunah, said the police recovered N14,725,000, two Honda Accord cars, an Audi car, one AK 47 magazine and two cartridges from the gang.
He stated that a Jeep, valued at N1.5m and N4m cash were recovered from Maidabra, while a Honda Accord, estimated at N1.1m, was recovered from George.
Awunah explained that detectives recovered N7.7m from Musa out of his N10m share, adding that he sustained bullet wounds after a gun duel with the police while trying to escape from the forest where they had kept their victim.
He said, “Mohammed Sule confessed to have received N10m in cash as part of his share of the ransom paid and claimed a soldier and a gang leader escaped with the rest of the loot. Another suspect, Ibrahim Abdullahi, admitted to have received N10m in cash.
“The police will continue to limit the capacity of kidnappers and other criminals to disrupt the quality of life of Nigerians by the deployment of adequate manpower and resources in crime reduction, detection and prosecution of offenders.”
On the payment of ransom, the police noted that it was sometime used as a bait or bargaining chip to save the lives of victims of crime.
“It is absolutely important to mention that the police do not and will not encourage payment of ransom,” Awunah added.
punch report
80million Ransom?WOOOOW!
Imagine so these tozo hausa mumus actually did this, nama, since their brother started rulling I noticed they have been causing more mayhem, I wish they can all be shot
ReplyDeleteI thought they said they didn't pay any ransom?
DeleteAnyway.
Your head no just correct. To you now you have commented. Fool
DeleteI knew they'll catch them. There's no way they'll run with that money. It would have been a big disgrace on the SSS/police if they weren't trailed.
Delete80M and then 13M.
ReplyDeleteNa wa o. They've met their Waterloo.
ReplyDeleteYour comment will be visible after approval.
Told my husband they weren't released without ransom and he doubted me.80million naira for this economic recession!
ReplyDeleteRecession is only for the poor in Nigeria.
DeleteGod help this country
I want to believe that they used marked money for this purpose.
DeleteAbeg u guyz should leave the soldiers is their share of the National cake
ReplyDeleteSo person fit pay this kind of money in dis Recession
Mchewwwwwwww
I concur! How much do they pay them? Soldiers aren't taken care of at all in Nigeria. It's so sad really. The whole situation
DeleteI am not surprised at your comment when most average Nigerians like u are thieves,I trust no one in Nigeria to most of u it's normal to steal.
DeleteWait till your family is kidnapped and you can say that again.
DeletePoverty don dent your brain.
Don Mayor close that your stinking mouth.
DeleteI am not in support in kidnapping or any Criminal act
DeleteOur Politicians are the biggest thief, though CBN Govnor ain't a Politician
@ Anno kindly reply me with your ID, since u remain Anno i'll not waste my 2 cent on u
It takes a thief to know a thief
@ PovertyMayor
DeleteU are a Don n u live on SDK blog 24/7
Oya clap 4 ya self OBO ( Omo Baba Olowo)
Lawd!!!
ReplyDeleteSo ransom was paid?
Nigeria my Nigeria.
Abeg the kidnappings along that road is getting too much. Recently, my friend's colleague that was going for his wife's burial preparation was kidnapped. His people had to pay 4M before he was released. I pity d man die. Now dem don shift the burial. Its those Fulani herdsmen that are operating there now.
DeleteEnd time ransom
ReplyDeleteSharp sharp ..This man dipped hand in the treasury. ..oya EFCC should look into the matter. .is He worth that much to be able to pay such as ransome?
ReplyDeleteAyam not understanding.. soldiers helped criminals to transport money? As in help them? They are all involved joor.. af the 80 million.. I think they paid more than that.
ReplyDeleteNo, soldiers carried out the kidnap and sent some oda soldiers to transport the cash.
DeleteThe level of crime in Nigeria and calibre of people involved in them is disheartening
ReplyDeleteThe is no money in the country, the country is in recession but
ReplyDeleteThey could cough out 80m niara for kidnappers. It's well with Nigeria
The money used as ransom must be from the Treasury.How could he gather such amount within 24hrs? EFCC should investigate him now.
ReplyDeleteYinmu
ReplyDeleteAm so addicted to SDK Blog. God help me to come out of this addiction.This is not me joor.
ReplyDeleteSo addicted yet nobody knows your name here. Keep licking ass
DeleteThey should face the law.
ReplyDeleteYahoo boy
DeleteKeep doing Yahoo
One day u took will face d Law
Military Soldiers got involved in a kidnapping spare?
ReplyDeleteThis is the height of it.
Nigerians n lies.
ReplyDeleteNational cake my foot.
I wonder hw one can actually commend evil.
They shud be be killed.
End time soldiers
ReplyDeleteThese politicians are not affected by this recession, like seriously 80mills...thankGod they were caught
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm na wa soldiers involved, 80million
ReplyDeleteTruth is coming out. Shebi you people said no ransom was paid. So N80m was coughed out under 24hrs? Chai, there is God o.
ReplyDeleteSo them get that kind of money to pay under dis recession yet them they campaign to sell National asset
ReplyDeleteIssorite!!! Pls am looking for work around Lekki-ajah axis sm1 shld link me up biko
ReplyDeleteGod somebody is paying 80m to kidnappers and I am only asking for just 100k to better my life? God, you must not keep quiet over my matter ooo
ReplyDeleteAnd them say Nigeria dey reccession
ReplyDelete1 of d wicked leaders meets wicked kidnappers.
ReplyDeleteAs long as u have read it am ok,if u like don't post it
ReplyDeleteI knew it will come to this...liars every where... Those soldiers knew that the money was illegal considering the amount. Good for them. Am still hopeful that my oga that was kidnapped 3weeks ago will be released. Even after paying those bastard twice they are not still touched to free him. Hmmm God dey
ReplyDelete80 million, and they said no ransom was paid
ReplyDeleteWe need to go back to moral instructions at school, just like the good old days.
ReplyDeleteWe need to go back to moral instructions at school, just like the good old days.
ReplyDelete